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The lead singer of the band Paper Bird is Sarah Anderson. Paper Bird is a seven-piece folk band originally from Denver, Colorado that formed in 2007. The band is known for their tight harmonies and blend of folk, pop, and Americana influences. Sarah Anderson’s clear, emotive voice has become a signature part of the band’s sound. As the lead vocalist, she brings heartfelt delivery and poignant lyrics to Paper Bird’s songs.
More Background on Paper Bird
Paper Bird began as a loose collaboration between several musicians in the Denver area. The early members were Sarah Anderson, Genevieve Patterson, Esmé Patterson, Caleb Summeril, and Paul DeHaven. The band coalesced around a sound that mixed folk instrumentation like banjo and acoustic guitar with pop-inspired vocal arrangements. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009 and immediately gained positive notice in the Denver music scene.
The band began touring regionally and gaining a grassroots following. In 2010, they released their second album When the Helicopter Comes to Town. The track “Sing Along” earned airplay on local radio stations. Around this time, Mark Anderson and Jason Downing joined the band, rounding out the lineup.
Over the next few years, Paper Bird continued to tour extensively, playing clubs and festivals around the Mountain West. In 2012, they signed with Madison House Publicity to help promote their increasing popularity. Later that year, they released Rooms, which represented a shift to a more polished sound. The intimate vocal interplay remained central, however.
Paper Bird released two more albums on Madison House Records: Esmo (2014) and Real Trees (2016). While folk and country influences are still apparent, their sound incorporated more rhythmic grooves and pop hooks. Through steady touring and promotion, they have cultivated a dedicated fanbase across the US.
Sarah Anderson’s Musical Background
Born in 1989, Sarah Anderson grew up in a musical family in Denver, Colorado. Her father was a musician and her mother was an Irish step dancer. Sarah and her sister Genevieve grew up singing and were heavily involved in the local music scene from a young age.
Sarah sang in school and church choirs during her childhood. As a teenager, she performed in musical theater productions at her high school. She was often cast in leading roles that required strong vocals and stage presence.
In her late teens, Sarah began writing her own songs and playing guitar. She performed solo acoustic shows at local cafes and open mic nights. Her introspective, confessional songwriting style was influenced by such artists as Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Laura Veirs.
While studying photography and design in college, Sarah continued developing as a solo artist. She self-released her first EP Ten Cent Dream in 2007. Around this time, she connected with fellow local musicians Esmé and Genevieve Patterson, Caleb Summeril and others. Their mutual appreciation for vocal harmonies planted the seed for what would become Paper Bird.
Sarah Assumes Role as Lead Singer
Given her extensive musical background, Sarah was a natural choice to handle lead vocal duties when Paper Bird first formed. Her voice conveyed emotion and commanded attention even in a stripped-down band setting.
As Paper Bird expanded their lineup and arrangements, the lead singing role remained Sarah’s. Her pristine yet earthy tone cut through the band’s growing layers of guitars, piano, bass and percussion. She also arranged many of the band’s vocal parts, citing artists like Fleetwood Mac and Nick Drake as influences.
While Paper Bird has always been an egalitarian ensemble, Sarah’s voice provides a core thread of continuity. Her phrasing and melody shape the personality of songs like “Balloon”, “Shoulder On Your Shore”, and “Howl”.
On record and live, Sarah thrives in the role of frontwoman. Her stage presence draws in listeners even in a crowded club or festival setting. During vocal solos, the band members intuitively accompany and support her. After years of touring together, their musical chemistry is second nature.
While Paper Bird has gained more recognition in recent years, Sarah remains focused on conveying honesty and passion as a vocalist. Her dedication never wavers.
Her Vocal Style and Range
Tone and Texture
Sarah possesses a light, nimble soprano voice. Her tone strikes a balance between ethereal and earthy. There is an airy, delicate quality but also warmth and sweetness. This combination gives her delivery a down-to-earth charm.
Sarah uses precise articulation but never over-enunciates. Her phrasing has a conversational flow. At times her tone conveys a hushed intimacy, drawing listeners in close. Her voice can also take on a crystalline purity, sailing above the band’s instrumentation.
Technical Ability
Sarah has impressive technical foundations as a vocalist. Her breathing is properly supported to sustain phrases and control vibrato. She exhibits excellent pitch, staying centered on notes without much wavering.
Sarah’s range spans about two and a half octaves. She is capable of both smooth legato transitions between notes and crisp, accurate runs. The bright overtones in her upper register complement the richer low end of her range.
Expression
One of Sarah’s strengths is using dynamics and subtle inflections to enhance lyrical meaning. She never oversings, keeping interpretations understated and believable. The sensitivity of her delivery elicits an emotional response in the listener.
Without relying on theatrics, Sarah builds momentum during solos by gradually swelling in intensity. She uses rhythmic variations and accented notes to highlight poignant lyrics. Her phrasing choices reflect the lyrical content.
Her Role in Paper Bird’s Sound
As lead singer, Sarah’s voice is arguably Paper Bird’s most identifiable and magnetic element. While the band has evolved stylistically over the years, Sarah’s singing remains a constant. She provides a human core amidst the diverse instrumentation.
Sarah ensures that vocals stay front-and-center in Paper Bird’s dense arrangements. The lush atmospherics of songs like “Dark Days” and “Don’t You Run” provide a backdrop for her expressive performances. Her tone cuts through the rhythmic shuffle of a song like “Balloon”, giving it bounce and propulsion.
Beyond her technical skills, Sarah brings emotional honesty and soulfulness to Paper Bird’s music. Her instincts for infusing lyrics with feeling help the songs connect on a deeper level. The band’s layered vocal parts retain intimacy and warmth thanks to her guidance.
While some bands have interchangeable frontpersons, it’s difficult to imagine Paper Bird without Sarah Anderson. Her singular talent as a vocalist and collaborator has become elemental to the band’s appeal and success. She remains a compelling presence on stage and on record.
Her Lyrical Themes and Writing
Sarah draws much of her lyrical inspiration from personal experience. Her songwriting often grapples with relationships, nostalgia, disillusionment, and the passage of time. There is an underlying searching quality, frequently tinged with sadness.
On Paper Bird’s album Real Trees, Sarah penned songs like “Floating” and “Buried Bones”. These introspective tunes deal with feelings of uncertainty and lost youth. Her delicate treatment of longing and regret elicits empathy.
Sarah’s lyrics sometimes take on mythical overtones, as in the song “Fireflies” with its references to magical elements. But the emotional core always feels authentic and relatable. Her poetry marries the ordinary and fantastic in a distinctive way.
As a songwriter, Sarah seems to channel different personae depending on the subject matter. On a wistful folk number like “The Saddest Song”, she inhabits the perspective of a lovelorn narrator with great conviction. Over the band’s surging rock instrumentation on “Don’t You Run”, she becomes a defiant voice of perseverance.
Sarah often opts for simple, direct language in her writing. But striking imagery and colorful details give the lyrics texture and depth. Overall, her poetic voice is marked by honesty, subtlety and imagination.
Highlights and Accomplishments
Some Notable Performances
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (San Francisco) – 2018
- Northwest String Summit (North Plains, OR) – 2017
- Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest (Fort Collins, CO) – 2016
- Opening for acts like Punch Brothers, Josh Ritter, Ryan Adams – Multiple dates
- Red Rocks Ampitheatre (Denver, CO) – 2015
Accolades and Reception
- The song “Balloon” reached #6 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in 2019.
- Paper Bird appeared on the PBS music documentary “WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour” in 2014.
- The group has received praise from NPR, Paste Magazine, No Depression, and other outlets.
- Paper Bird won the “Hottest New Band in Colorado” at the Westword Music Awards in 2011.
- Sarah’s voice has earned consistent acclaim for its purity, sincerity, and broad appeal.
Collaborations
- Sarah has collaborated on stage with acts like Gregory Alan Isakov and Hurray for the Riff Raff, blending vocals.
- She sang a guest vocal spot on Marty Grimes’ 2021 album “Trees, Grass and Dirt.”
- Sarah contributed backing vocals on several tracks of the 2019 album “Amends” by Ben Sollee.
- In 2018, she joined the Colorado supergroup Dyrty Byrds, appearing on their eponymous album.
Conclusion
Sarah Anderson’s graceful, expressive voice has been a trademark of Paper Bird’s music for over 15 years. Her singing merges technical precision with emotional depth and warmth. As a songwriter, she brings poetic sensibility and candor to the band’s folk-tinged Americana sound.
While Paper Bird’s instrumentation and arrangements have evolved over their career, Sarah’s presence provides continuity. She is an integral part of their chemistry and appeal. Her vocal phrasing and harmonies form the core of their lush, intricate sound.
Few contemporary folk acts have a lead singer as compelling as Sarah Anderson. When she glides up to the microphone during a Paper Bird performance, an audience knows they are in for something special. Her talent, charisma and dedication continue inspiring the band to new heights.
